TWO prisoners have been charged with the murder of a child rapist in a high security North East jail.

TWO prisoners have been charged with the murder of a child rapist in a high security North East jail.

A murder investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary when 23-year-old Mitchell Dean Harrison was found dead in his cell in HM Prison Frankland after 10am on Saturday.

Yesterday detectives charged two fellow inmates, aged 32 and 23, with his murder. They are due to appear before Peterlee Magistrates today.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper revealed Harrison died from multiple injuries.

Initially three prisoners were detained following the discovery, but two men were charged and the third prisoner is not believed to be implicated in the matter at this stage.

Harrison, who is originally from Wolverhampton, was jailed in 2010 for at least four-and-a-half years after admitting raping a 13-year-old schoolgirl in Kendal, Cumbria, in August 2009. Carlisle Crown Court heard how the young girl accompanied Harrison back to his flat where he said he was going to get money for cigarettes and drink. But once there he told the terrified girl to strip and raped her twice.

She only managed to escape when another man arrived and she fled naked into the street with her clothes in her arms

Harrison, whose last known address was in Cumbria, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape at a court hearing and was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court and was told he was being jailed indefinitely and would serve at least four-and-a-half years before even being considered for parole.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Harrison’s cell was cordoned off for a full forensic examination as forensic experts moved in to comb the cell for evidence.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Chapman, who is leading the homicide investigation, said: “We are carrying out a full investigation into the circumstances leading to this man’s death and are working closely with the prison service.”

A spokeswoman from the Ministry of Justice confirmed that it has been informed of the incident and said it was a matter that was being handled by Durham Constabulary.